Jefferson County awaits 2013 New Year’s baby

By VICKI TILLIS, Ledger news editor | Dec 28, 2012

Photo by: JULIE JOHNSTON/Ledger photoThe Jefferson County Health Center Auxiliary unveils the quilt its members made for the 2013 New Year’s Baby during a tea earlier in December. The quilt will be gifted to the family of the first infant born in Jefferson County in the new year.

With Christmas Day now a memory and 2012 quickly winding down, the wait for the 2013 Jefferson County New Year’s baby is under way.

Originally, the New Year’s baby title went to the first baby born at Jefferson County Hospital each year, but since the facility’s obstetrics department closed several years ago, the title now goes to the first infant born to a Jefferson County mother.

The baby can be born in any hospital in any town, but the mother must live in Jefferson County, and The Fairfield Ledger must be contacted at 472-2116 within 24 hours after the birth. An answering machine is available if the office is closed.

The parents are given a letter authorizing them to pick up gifts donated by participating Fairfield businesses.

Jefferson County’s 2012 New Year’s baby was Magnus Saxon, son of Marcus and Shanti Chatfield of rural Jefferson County. The 7 pound, 1.7 ounce baby was born at 3:15 a.m. Jan. 10 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

“We chose Magnus, because it means ‘great man,’ and has a Roman sound to it, like my name does,” said the new dad. “And Saxon, means ‘swordsman.’ I’m a classically trained fencer and practice martial arts. So, we gave our son a strong sounding name, something to live up to and aspire to.”

The 2011 New Year’s baby made her appearance right on New Year’s Day. June Irene Lebert, the daughter of Meagan and Christopher Lebert of Fairfield, was born at 4:12 a.m. Jan. 1 at the Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa. The baby weighed 6-pound, 8-ounces.

The 2010 New Year’s baby was Abbigail Elizabeth Beggs, the daughter of Melissa Beggs of Fairfield and Thomas Batterson. The 9-pounds, 14-ounces baby was born at 12:14 p.m. Jan. 13 at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.

The 2009 New Year’s baby was Addisyn Ann Koontz, the daughter of Stacia Verrips and Shane Koontz of Libertyville. She was born at 1:15 a.m. Jan. 4 at Ottumwa Regional Health Center and weighed 7 pounds, 10.5 ounces.

The 2008 New Year’s baby was Serenity Maurine Pisano, the daughter of Brenda and Jim Pisano of Pleasant Plain. The 6- pounds, 15-ounce, baby was born at 4:23 p.m. Jan. 9 at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.

In 2007, the New Year’s baby was Anthony Joseph Smithburg, the 9-pound, 9-ounce son of Megan and Erik Smithburg of Libertyville, born by cesarean section at 11:51 a.m. Jan. 4 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.